Los Angeles Chargers top target Keenan Allen has been one of the best receivers in fantasy football throughout the 2023 NFL season. Will he be able to keep racking up the receptions Thursday night against the Las Vegas Raiders, or will his body betray him?
Allen leads the league with 108 receptions, the only pro pass catcher who has topped the century mark in catches. He has four 100-yard games and one 200-yard game on the season and has been a consistent, dominant fantasy force from Week 1 on. The problem for his fantasy managers is that Allen did not practice at all this week heading into Los Angeles’ Thursday night matchup against Las Vegas due to a heel injury.
So will Allen be able to limp onto the field tonight and help his fantasy managers as leagues enter the most crucial week of the campaign? Here is the latest:
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!
Is Keenan Allen Playing or Injured in Week 15 Fantasy Football?
Unfortunately, fantasy managers will be without their No. 1 WR this week when their playoff hopes might be hanging in the balance. Allen will not suit up Thursday night due to his heel injury.
This has fantasy ramifications for a whole host of Chargers. Backup quarterback Easton Stick, pressed into duty due to Justin Herbert’s finger injury, cannot be counted on to provide much now without Allen on the field. The Chargers' receiving corps is below-average when Allen is not on the field as it lacks any consistent gamebreakers.
Rookie Quentin Johnson and Joshua Palmer will line up as the top two wideouts for L.A. this evening. Johnson has shown signs of life recently (143 receiving yards over last two games) after a quiet kickoff to his career, but who knows how much he will produce without Allen distracting the defense and Herbert not throwing him the passes. Palmer has had an injury-marred, inconsistent season, but he has prospered in past situations when Allen has missed time.
Veteran tight end Gerald Everett should see some more targets with Allen out, although he is battling a hip injury himself and might not be at 100 percent. The Charger who should see more touches because of Allen’s absence is running back Austin Ekeler, who will probably be relied upon more if the Chargers offense goes conservative to help Stick get his feet wet.
Hopefully, Allen will return next week when the playoffs begin in most fantasy football leagues. Fantasy managers cannot afford to be without a receiver who has piled on as many catches, yards, and touchdowns as Allen has this year. No word on what his availability will be in Week 16 yet, so keep your fingers crossed your fantasy squad will have another chance to use him in 2023.